MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, UNITED STATES

10.27.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - Senior leadership from the Naval Aviation Enterprise visited Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., for a “Boots on the Ground” event Oct. 27.

Marine Aircraft Group 11 hosted the event and provided opportunities for Marines and sailors to tell senior leadership about what works and what needs to be fixed in naval aviation.

The NAE is a war fighting partnership that solves complex, cross-command issues in order to make decisions for the greater good of naval aviation and to support national interests.

At the beginning of the event, there were briefs about the success, concerns and current initiatives of the host command. These briefs describe the best practices they developed which other commands can adopt. Afterward, NAE leadership toured different facilities aboard Miramar and talked with junior Marines and sailors who man the areas.

“Boots on the Ground” identifies challenges faced locally that in some regard the other commands throughout Marine and naval aviation face and gives senior leadership what they want, which is the opportunity to see the Marines, sailors and issues, but also a chance to see what resources are needed to take readiness to the next level, explained Lt. Col. Patrick McDoniel, the commanding officer of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11.

“The biggest thing is that we are going to save a lot of man hours,” said Brig. Gen. Terry Robling, the deputy commandant for aviation. “Most things we do to keep our aircraft in the air is on the backs of our Marines and sailors, so if we find more efficiencies within the enterprise that will both reduce man hours and reduce costs. We can take the limited resources we get and put them in the right places.”

At the end of the event they held a “hot wash” debrief during which leadership had a chance to gain further understanding of the issues that need more resolution while offering their experience and guidance.